An Antiques Roadshow guest was left stunned when he learned the truth behind their crown ‘kingdom’ – as the BBC expert admitted ‘he would buy one but can’t afford it’.
During Sunday’s BBC show, the folks at Cromford Mills in Derbyshire took their hidden gems to the experts for valuation.
Chris Yeo’s face lit up when a guest presented him with a gold and red velvet crown that doubled as a Chatsworth House trinket box.
The woman explained that it was given to her by her husband two years ago as a Valentine’s Day gift, but originally came from an attic sale at the famous estate in 2010.
An excited Chris replied: “What it is is a crown fit for a king, you might say, or even a duke.
‘Probably for storing trinkets. Victorian, with this gilded metal outline and a velvet inset.
Chris Yeo’s face lit up when a guest presented him with a gold and red velvet crown that doubled as a Chatsworth House trinket box
The woman explained that it was given to her by her husband two years ago as a Valentine’s Day gift, but originally came from an attic sale at the famous estate in 2010.
Chris recalled wanting the item when he saw it, or something similar, during a visit at Chatsworth House, but ‘couldn’t afford it’
Opening it, the expert continued, “If you turn the crown like this, the top comes off and you have a velvet-lined interior.
‘It’s a beautiful, beautiful thing. Very good quality. It’s something I would really like to have in my home.’
Chris recalled wanting the item when he saw it, or something similar, during a visit at Chatsworth House, but ‘couldn’t afford it’.
Revealing the value of the beautiful piece, he said: “That brings us to the price. If that were to go to auction now, in the county of Chatsworth, it could fetch between £800 and £1,200.”
He asked the guest if she loved it even more now that she knew its value, to which she replied, “I love it, I just love it.”
‘I’m very happy. I think my husband will be very happy with it. I think he’s as intrigued as I am to find out more, so yeah, we’re very excited.”
Antiques Roadshow airs on BBC One and can be streamed on iPlayer.